katrin baumgarten: the disgusted object

katrin baumgarten created this series of objects to explore the feeling of disgust as part of an interaction. the first object simulates the pilomotor reflex or goosebumps on skin. while holding the object the user will slowly begin to feel little bumps on the underside. the other object begins to squirm while it is being held. it is static when not held but when grasped, it tries to escape the hand as if it were a living creature. baumgarten describes her interest in disgust, ‘i am interested in the transformation between the states of disgust to comfort, especially in the moment of abjection when touching a dead object which becomes living matter in surprise. additionally to this intellectual uncertainty, the reaction of an inanimate object touching back can horrify users.’http:// katrinbaumgarten.de